Caesar Women Masters of Rome Series Colleen McCullough 9780380710843 Books
Download As PDF : Caesar Women Masters of Rome Series Colleen McCullough 9780380710843 Books
Caesar Women Masters of Rome Series Colleen McCullough 9780380710843 Books
I haven't read all of it yet, but so far it is an excellent book. Ms. McCullough is an excellent writer, and this book continues that tradition. Most accounts of Julius Caesar approach his life from the standpoint of his leadership in wars, especially the conquering of Gaul. This book approaches his life in terms of his everyday activities when he was in Rome before going off to Gaul. In particular, his relationship with his long-term lover, Servilia, provides insight into his relationships with other famous Romans (such as Pompey, Crassus, Cicero, Cato, and the younger Brutus--who turned out to be one of his assassins) as well as his mother and his daughter, Julia. It's an excellent book for anyone interested in the final period of the Roman Republic.Tags : Caesar's Women (Masters of Rome Series) [Colleen McCullough] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. His victories were legend -- in battle and bedchamber alike. Love was a political weapon he wielded cunningly and ruthlessly in his private war against enemies in the forum. Genius,Colleen McCullough,Caesar's Women (Masters of Rome Series),Avon Books,0380710846,Rome;History;Fiction,Rome;History;Republic, 265-30 B.C.;Fiction.,Caesar, Julius,FICTION Historical General,FICTION Romance Historical General,Fiction,Fiction - Historical,Fiction-Historical,General Adult,Historical - General,History,MASS MARKET,Republic, 265-30 B.C.,Rome
Caesar Women Masters of Rome Series Colleen McCullough 9780380710843 Books Reviews
Of her entire Masters of Rome series (if which I include books 6 and 7) I found Caesar's Women to be one of the best because the women characters in this epic story are finally pushed to the forefront. If you are looking for gratuitous deeds of stereotypical Hollywood Rome with orgies, murder, and the like, this is not the book to read. But the serious lover of Roman history will find the exploits of the women in this novel so believable that it feels like 100% historical accuracy. The classes of each woman drives their ambitions, from Servillia, the mistress of Caesar, who rules her household with an iron fist but knows she cannot rule Caesar, whose class far surpasses her own. To Cleopatra, the young and immature Queen of Egypt who seeks to rule both Egypt and Caesar. To Julia, the daughter of Caesar who meekly accepts whatever destiny her father deems best for himself. The women of this novel come to life in vivid color and distinct behavior and each, in her own way, guides the life of that greatest among Romans, Julius Caesar.
I have read the entire "Masters of Rome" series, and this one is plainly the weakest of the lot. The storyline is contorted, and there is the constant irritant caused by author McCullough's adoration of Julius Caesar. Caesar is, throughout the book, portrayed (as in all of McCullough's novels in which Caesar appears) as virtually a superman. McCullough's uncritical evaluation of Caesar is an embarrassment to what is, in many ways, a considerable achievement because McCullough's apparent understanding of the society of the late Roman Republic is impressive.
Another flaw of this novel is the fact that it is simply too long. It meanders all over the place, and it handles poorly some of the truly interesting historical events that it does cover, such as the Catiline conspiracy. Although the novel discusses this event, the reader never really derives an understanding of it here. And as she does in earlier novels of the series, McCullough never hides which historical figures she admires (Caesar) and which ones she has contempt for (Cicero, Bibulus, and many others). In this novel McCullough paints Cicero as a childlike buffoon. Well, maybe he was.
This one is worth reading if you are really into the Masters of Rome series, but many readers will find it to be tedious and difficult to finish.
This book has as more to do with Caesar`s rise to power and the political maneuvering at that time than the women with whom he cuckolded his enemies. However, it does give a interesting assessment of the women around Caesar, and how they stood out despite the male chauvinism of ancient Roman society. Sometimes the plethora of names can be overwhelming, but you get a good picture of the complexity of the Roman political scene. This book isn`t as interesting as The Grass Crown or Fortune`s Favorites, but it`s definitely worth the read. One interesting aspect of this book is how it shows Caesar`s changing attitudes towards his allies and enemies alike, particularly in reference to his main goal in life the protection and advancement of Rome. Even if he hated an unforgivable personal slur they had made regarding him, he was still able to appreciate and support his enemies when their actions were beneficial to Rome. It is clear that Colleen McCullough admires Caesar; a more balanced view, with some attention to Caesar`s flaws, might have made for a more intriguing character assessment. Caesar was an interesting man, but he was human, too! McCullough is to be commended on her scholarship, insight, and creativity in character and plot development; she really makes the characters come to life.
Colleen McCullough is the god of ancient rome novels. Anyone who like historical fiction about Rome will literally worship her accomplishment. The entire "Masters of Rome" series is an incredible masterpiece. Its what fans of ancient Rome wished for for generations. She takes all the interesting historical characters and tells their story as a narrative, instead of as a collection of facts.
Its great if you are into that stuff.
But... truth be told, Colleen is a better historian than she is a novelist. The novels are good! Very good! But they do have some flaws. Fans of ancient rome are willing to forgive her theses flaws, but if you are not already a fan of the subject you might be less inclined.
In this book, the flaw seems to be the lack of seduction. In theory the book is about how Caesar slept with the wives of all of his enemies. But there is not one single example of him doing so. it all happens off stage (with the exception of Servilia, who was not the wife of one of his enemies, and is always talked about as the exception to his rule). Colleen has a habit of glossing over what seems to be the most interesting part of history. She spends 200 pages setting up a big battle, then she never describes the battle. She spends 1000 pages setting up Caesars plan to seduce his enemies wives then she never describes him seducing the wives. There seem to be gaps in her stories.
Masters of Rome is the best historical fiction ever written about ancient rome, certainly its the most epic in scale. Its the best there is for a very particular niche market. But if we compare it to other epics outside that market, its just not as good. This is no Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings. Take it as you will.
I haven't read all of it yet, but so far it is an excellent book. Ms. McCullough is an excellent writer, and this book continues that tradition. Most accounts of Julius Caesar approach his life from the standpoint of his leadership in wars, especially the conquering of Gaul. This book approaches his life in terms of his everyday activities when he was in Rome before going off to Gaul. In particular, his relationship with his long-term lover, Servilia, provides insight into his relationships with other famous Romans (such as Pompey, Crassus, Cicero, Cato, and the younger Brutus--who turned out to be one of his assassins) as well as his mother and his daughter, Julia. It's an excellent book for anyone interested in the final period of the Roman Republic.
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